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REFERENCES TO ACTS AUTHORIZING THE PAYMENT FOR 

PROPERTY LOST, CAPTURED, OR DESTROYED BY THE 

ENEMY WHILE IN THE MILITARY SERVICE, ETC. 



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RErERENCES TO ACTS AUTHORIZING THE PAYMENT FOR PROPERTY 
LOST, CAPTURED. OR DESTROYED BY THE ENEMY WHILE IN THE 
MILITARY SERVICE. ETC. 



On April 9, 1816, Congress passed an act entitled "'An act to author- 
ize the payment for propert}^ lost, captured, or destroyed by the 
enemy, while in the military service of the United States, and for 
other purposes." (3 Stat., p. 261.) 

Section 1 of said act provided for paying for horses lost in battle or 
otherwise while in the military service in the war of 1812. 

Section 2 directed payment for horses lost by the owner being dis- 
mounted or separated from the same. 

Section 3 directed payment for all horses, mules, oxen, wagons, 
carts, boats, sleighs, or harness which were lost, captured, or destroyed 
by the enemy while such property was in the military service of the 
United States by impressment or contract. 

Section 4 directed payment for arms and accouterments lost or 
destroyed. 

Section 5 provided that where any property had been impressed or 
taken by public authority for the subsistence of the Army and was 
destroyed, lost, or consumed the owner should be paid the value 
thereof. 

Section 9 providetl — 

That any person who, in the time aforesaid, lias sustained damage by the destruc- 
tion of his or her house or T)uildings by the enemy while the same was occupied as a 
military deposit, under the authority of an officer or agent of the United States, 
shall be allowed and paid the amount of such damage: Provided, It sliall appear that 
such occupation was the cause of its destruction. 

Said act provided for the appointment of a commissioner to settle 
and adjust these claims under such rules and regulations as the Presi- 
dent should ])rescribe. 

Richard Bland Lee was appointed the commissioner, and by refer- 
ence to American State Papers (Vol. Claims, pp. 490 to 496) will be 
found the rules and regulations prescribed by the President for the 
guidance of the commissioner. 

The report there shows that the commissioner had, from July 1 to 
December 17, 1816, adjusted 850 claims, upon which he awarded 
$229,693.15. 

The commissioner stated in his report that the rules adopted by the 
President and himself had also been adopted by Congress in the pas- 
sage of several private acts, in April, 1816, and, among others, acts for 
paying William Flood for a house burnt by the British; to pay Chn- 
ton County, X. Y., for a courthouse burnt by order of Gen. Macomb; 

74912— n 



uiul to ])!iy Ilamilton County, Oliio, for the coiiit house l)urut while 
occupied by troops of the United States. 

On February 20, 1818, the commissioner, throuijh the Secretary of 
Will, made a report shoAvin^ what amount Jiad ))een paid on chiims 
under the ninth section, but this report does not appear to have been 
printed in the American State Papers. It is referred to on pao;e 590. 

The act of A])ril 18, 1818, transferred all unadjusted claims to the 
third autlitor and directed that he should settle and adjust them in 
accordance with the rules and reo^ulations prescribed for the commis- 
sioner by the President under the act of 1816. (3 Stat. L., p. 466.) 

Subsequently Congress referred many claims tiiat had not been filed 
within the limitations of the act of 1816 to the third auditor to be 
settled upon the rules mentioned. 

Congress also passed many private claims of like character, among 
others for the numerous ropewalks and contents burnt at Baltimore 
by the commanding officer. (6 Stat. L., pp. 150, 155, 221, 673.) 

Congress has passed numerous private acts to pay for houses and 
buildings beloiigmg to private citizens damaged or destroyed by orders 
of officers or agents of the Government, and also for those damaged or 
destroyed by the enemy in time of war, as will appear in volume 6, 
Statutes at T^arge. 

A partial list of these acts are appended hereto: 

Act of April 16, ISOO, tu pay the Rhode Island ("olle,a;e for the u.>Je and injuries to build- 
ings by I niled .States tnjops from December 10, 177(5, to April 20, 1780. (Page 40.) 
Act of February 2, 1815, to pay William Robinson and nine other? for damage done 

to their property by I'nited .States troops. (Page HG.) 
Act of February 27, 181.5, to pay Jacob Shinnic-k and four others for the destruction 

of ropewalks and other property therein deposited, at liaitiniore, by United States 

authorities. (Page 150.) 
Act of February 27, 1815, to pay William H. Washington for a house at the Potomac 

Bridge destroye<l by order of a United Statt^s officer, 1814. (Page 151. ■> 
Act of March 3, 1815, to pay the Eastern Branch Bridge ("o. for damage done to the 

bridge, by order of the Navy Department, 1814. (Page 152.) 
Act of March :i, 1815, to pay the Anacostia Bridge Co. for the destruction of their 

bridge, by order of the military, in 1814. (Page 153.) 
Act of March 3, 1815, to pay Thomas Sprigg for the destruction of his hempen yarn 

in the ropewalks near Baltimore by order of Gen. Foreman. (Page 155.) 
Act of March 3, 1815, to pay mechanics and others employed at the Washington 

Navy Yard for the destruction of their property burnt by the British in 1814. 

(Page 155.1 
Act of March 3, IS 15, to ]jay .lames Savage and 20 others for the destruction of their 

hou.sea and property at Plattsburg, N. Y., in 1814, by order of Gen. Macomb. 

(Page 155.) 
Act of April 24. 181(j. to pay William Flood for [)roperty destroved bv the British at 

New Orleans in 1815. (Page 163.) 
Act of April 26, 1816. to pay Clinton County, N. Y., for a courthouse destroyed by 

order of (Jen. Macomb in 1814. (Page 1()4.) 
Act of April 26, 1816, to pay Hamilton County, Ohio, for the destruction by fire of the 

courthouse wliilc occupied by United Stales troops. (Stal. L., page 306.) 
Act of April 26, ISK;, id pav the Washiiigtnn i'>ridge Co. for injury to their bridge, by 

order of Inifed States ()llicers, in 1814. (Page 168.) 
Act of April 27, 1816, to j)ay Samuel Manac for his property destroyed by hoetile 

Creeks in late war. (Page 171.) 
Act of April 27, 1816, to pay the estate of John Ross for the occui)ation of his farm and 

destruction of his building.s bv United States troops at Point Petre, Ga., War of 

1812. (Page 173.) 
Act of March 1, 1817, to pay the estate of Ignace 0. Delino and others for their prop- 
erty destroyed near New (Jrleans by order of Gen. Jackson. (Page 186.) 
Act of March !!, 1817, to pav Mailame Montriuel for injury to her property, by order of 

Gen. Jackson. (Page "187.) 
Act of March 3, 1817, to jiay Peter Ca.sland for the destniction of his s;iwmill and other 

property, by order of Gen. Morgan. (Page 188.) 



Act of March 3, 1817, to pay tho friendly Creek Indians $85,000 for their property- 
destroyed by hostile (,'reeks in War of 1812. (Page 191.) 

Act of March 3, 1817, to pay Joseph I. Green for damage done to his house at Platts- 
burg, N. Y., in 1814, by order of Gen. Macomb. (Page 193.) 

Act of March 3, 1817, to pay Caleb Nicholls for damage done to his house and store, 
by order of Gen. Macomb, at Plattsburg, N. Y., in 1814. (Page 194.) 

Act of March 3, 1817, to pay James H. Boisgervais for the destruction of his sawmill 
and property, near New Orleans, by order of Gen. David B. Morgan. (Page 195.) 

Act of March 3, 1817, to pay William Oliver for the destruction of his house, by order 
of the officer who commanded at Fort Wayne, in 1812. (Page 196.) 

Act of April 11, 1818, to pay Sarah Dewees and others |8,0G0 for property taken for 
public use in war. (Page 207.) 

Act of April 18, 1818, to pay Thomas Miller and Stephen Baker, of New York City, 
$3,500 for the value of a house burnt in Greenwich, N. Y., Avhile rented and 
occupied bv United States troops. (Page 209.) 

Act of April 20," 1818, to pay Samuel F. Hooker, of Sacketts Harbor, N. Y., for prop- 
erty taken for public use, and for a house and barn destroyed by the enemy at 
Cape St. Vincent. (Page 211.) 

Act of January 19, 1819, to pay Mottrom Ball, of Northumberland County, Va., $1,400, 
for the destruction of his buildings on Old Courthouse Point. (Page 217.) 

Act of February 16, 1819, to pay Daniel Reuner and N. H. Heath $19,803.60 for cord- 
age, spun yarn, and hemp burnt in their ropewalk, in August, 1814. (Page 221.) 

Act of March '3, 1819, to pay Michael Hogan, of Utica, N. Y., $1,100 for damages 
done to his house bv United States troops. (Page 231.) 

Act of December 29, 1820, to pay Ellas Parks, of Oswego, N. Y., for goods destroyed 
by the British in 1814. (Page 254.) 

Act of March 2, 1821, to pay Rosalie P. Deslonde $2,227 for damage done to her house 
and plantation bv United States troops, near New Orleans, in 1814. (Page 258.) 

Act of March 2, 1821," to pay John Rodriguez $1,857 for injuries to his buildings and 
plantation while occupied by United States troops in 1814, near New Orleans. 
(Page 259.) 

Act of March 2, 1821, to pay Francis B. Languille $2,250 for injury to his buildings 
while occupied by United States troops in 1814, near New Orleans. (Page 259.) 

Act of March 2, 1821, to pay Alexander Milne $2,500 for the destruction of buildings 
and other property by the United States troops at New Orleans in 1814. 
(Page 259.) 

Act of March 2, 1821, to pay Lewis H. Guerlain, of Louisiana, $420 for injury to his 
plantation and buildings bv United States troops in 1814. (Page 259.) 

Act of March 2, 1821, to pay Joseph McNeil $700 for injuries sustained during the in- 
vasion of the British of New Orleans in 1814. (Page 259.) 

Act of March 2, 1821, to pay Bartholomew Duverge, of New Orleans, $2,100 for use 
and destruction of property bv United States troops in 1814. (Page 260.) 

Act of March 2, 1821, to pay Pierre Dennis de la Roude $5,770.50 for injury to his 
plantation and buildings while occupied by United States troops in 1814 near 
New Orleans. (Page 260.) 

Act of April 17, 1822, to pay John Anderson, of Michigan, $1,300 for his house de- 
stroyed by fire in 1813 while occupied by United States troops without his con- 
sent. (Page 264.) 

Act of May 1, 1822, to pay James Mav $1,800, and the legal representatives of William 
Macomb $2,900, both of Detroit," for injuries done to their farms by United States 
troops during the War of 1812. (Page 266.) 

Act of May 7, 1822, to pav William Henderson $2,765 for property destroyed by the 
British, at Mundy Point, Va., War 1812. (Page 268.) 

Act of May 7, 1822, to pay Edward McCarty's estate $2,940 for property destroyed dur- 
ing the invasion of Louisiana in 1814. (Page 270.) 

Act of May 7, 1822, to pay the legal representatives of Joseph Hodgson, of Washing- 
ton, D. C, for the value of a dwelling house destroyed by fire in 1800, while 
rented and occupied by the Secretary of War. (Page 273.) 

Act of May 7, 1822, to pay Solomon Provost, of Louisiana, $1,966 for losses by British 
invasion in 1814. (Page 273.) 

Act of May 7, 1822, to pav Thomas Shields, of Louisiana, $1,693.10 for property burned 
by order of Lieut . Jones, United States Navv, at Bay St. Louis, in 1814. (Page 274.) 

Act of May 7, 1822, to pay Matthew McNair, of Michigan, $3,000 for a boat destroyed 

by order of tlie commanding officer at French Mills, Mich. (Page 275.) 
Act of May 7, 1822, to pay John Pellet, of Louisiana, $3,864 for the destruction of his 
buildings and other property during the invasion of 1814. (Page 277.) 



Act of Marcli 3. 1S23. to pay Edward Evat $1,338.81 for his house burnt while occu- 
pied by United States troops. (Pa^e 281.) 

Act of March 3. 1823, to pay Eleanor Lawrence $1,070 for damages to her farm on 
Long Island, \. Y., by occupation of Ignited States troops in 1813. (Page 282.) 

Act of March 3, 1823, to 'pay Samuel Walker $175, Joseph L. Dutton $450, John 
Martin and others $175, for injuries done to their lands near Marcus Hook on 
the Delaware River in 1814 by erecting defensive works thereon. (Page 284.) 

Act of May 17, 1824, to pav the estate of Samuel Mims $1,800 for buildings destroyed 
by hostile Indians at l^'ort Misus, Ohio, in 1813. (Page 300.) 

Act of May 17. 1824, to pay William T. Nimmo $500 for the destruction of a house in 
Princess Anne County, Va., by the British in 1813. (Page 300.) 

Act of May 17, 1824, to pay David Cooper $80 for an unfinished house pulled down 
and converted into a barrack. ( Page 301. ) 

Act of May 18, 1824, to pay Lemuel Arms $1.50 for the destruction of a building at 
Sacke\ts Harbor, N. Y.', by United States troops in January, 1815. (Page 304.) 

Act of May 25, 1824, to pay Alexander McXair, of Missouri, $2,000 for his house burnt 
near Fort Ma.<sack, while occupied by United States troops. (Page 314.) 

Act of March 3, 1825, to pay Joseph Dozet and Antoine Bourgoud $400 for destruc- 
tion of their property at River Raisin, Mich., in 1812, by order of Col. John 
Anderson. (Page 323.) 

Act of March 3, 1825, to pay Sarah Shillito $350 for her house destroyed in 1813, 
while occupied by United States troop.*. (Page 325.) 

Act of March 3, 1829, to pay the legal repre.'?entatives of John Guest for a frame house 
and brick office burnt by the BritLsh at Havre de Grace in 1813. (Page 400.) 

Act of January 30, 1830, to pay Joel Byington $282.16 for damage done to his house 
and barn by United States troops. (Page 403.) 

Act of February 11, 1830, to pay Joseph Dixon $30 for damage to his lot on Dixons 
Point, Me., by taking soil therefrom to erect fortifications. (Page 404.) 

Act of February 1*1. 1830, to pay the church wardens of Elizabeth City, Va.. $130.50 
for recasting a bell broken during the War of 1812 while used as an alarm by the 
commanding officer at that place. (Page 404.) 

Act of Februarv 11, 1830, to pav Peter Ford $133 for oxen lost on retreat from River 
Raisin. (Page 405.) 

Act of April 7. 1830, to pay Jean Baptiste Centure $2,000 for house, store, .stable, and 
other buildings at Frenchtown, Mich., destroyed by the British and Indians in 
1813 while occupied by the United States troops. (Page 411.) 

Act of April 7, 1830, to pay John Rodriguez $883 for injury to his i)lantation by erect- 
ing earthworks thereon. (Page 412.) 

Act of April 7, 1830, to pay Hubert l.a Croix, of Michigan, for the destruction of hie 
house at Frenchtown in 1813 by the British and Indians. (Page 412.) 

Act of May 29, 1830, to pay the heirs of the Widow Dupre $8,995 for the destruction 
and damage of her buildings near New Orleans by the L'nited States military 
forces under Gen. Jackson in 1815. (Page 438.) 

Act of May 31, 1^30, to pay .lean Bajjtiste Jerome for a barn burnt by order of an 
American officer at Frenchtown, Mich., to prevent its use as a cover for the Brit- 
i.-^h and Indians in 1813. (Page 448.) 

Act of May 31, 1S30, to pay Gabriel (iodfrey for the destruction of his barn and other 
property by order of an American officer, at Frenchtown, Mich., to prevent its 
use as a cover by the British and Indians in 1813. (Page 450.) 

Act of March 3, 1831, to j)ay Benjamin S. Smoot, of Alabama, $1,000 for a house de- 
stroyed by order of a United States officer to prevent its being a shelter for the 
liritish in their attack imon Fort Bowyer in 1814. (Page 4(j(5.) 

Act of Mav 3, 1832, to pav Pericia Tujjper $450 for a barn destroyed bv the British 
near IJuffalo. N. Y., iii the War of 1812. (Page 478.) 

Act of July 14. ]S32, to pay Silvia Posncr for a house luid other buildings burnt in 
the War of 1812, while occupied by United States troojjs. (Page 513.) 

Act of July 14, 1832, to i)ay Samuel May, of Buffalo, N. Y., $3,150 for the destruction 
of two warehou.xes by the Briti.sh in 1813. (Page 518.) 

Act of Julv, 1832, to i)av John Brunson for the value of a house and store destroyed 
by the British at Buffalo, N. Y. (Page 518.) 

Act ot July 14. 1S32. to pay estate of Edward Barry $568.35 for property destroyed 
in the burninijr of the Washington Navy Yard by the British in 1814. (Page 520.) 

Act of July 14. IS32, to pay Augustine Taney for buildings burnt by the British near 
lialtinK)r('. Md.. in 1S14. ( Page 525. ) 

Act of July 14, IS32, to pay Henry Waller for buildings burnl 1>\ tlu' iJriti.sh nii (he 
eastern shore of Maryland m LSI 1. (Page 525.) 

Act of Kehruary 9, 1,S33, to pav Gabrii'l Godfrey and Jean liaptiste lieaugrand $1,020 
for a barn, storehouse, and stable burnl bv the British ami Indians at French- 
town. Mich, in 1813. (Page 534,) 



Act of March 2, 1833, to pay the estate of George Hodge $824.18 for property destroyed 

in the burning of the Washington Navy Yard by the British in 1814. (Page 545.) 
Act of March 2, 1833, to pay Joshua P. Frotheringham $1,500 for a building burnt at 

Charlestown, Mass., in 1776. by order of Gen. Putnam. (Page 546.) 
Act of June 30, 1834, to pay Henry Sewall and Robert Sewall, of St. Marys County, 

Md., $10,000 for property destroyed by the British. (Page 585.) 
Act of June 30, 1834, to pay the estate of John Rose $2,500 for property burnt by the 

British at Washington Navy Yard. (Page 594.) 
Act of March 3, 1835, to pay estate of Aaron Smith, of Champlain, N. Y., $80 for the 

destruction of his property by United States troops. (Page 617.) 
Act of March 3, 1835, to pay John I. Avery $200 for occupation of his land and erecting 

earthworks thereon. (Page 618.) 
Act of February 17, 1836, directing payment to James TiUord for property destroyed 

upon the principles of the acts of April 9, 1816, and March 3, 1817, to pay for 

property destroyed by the enemy. (Page 622.) 
Act of February 17, 1836, to pay to William Baker $225.30 for the use and damage done 

to his property at Sacketts Harbor in 1813 by United States troops. (Page 623.) 
Act of February 17, 1836, to pay Jacob B. Gilbert $600 for a house destroyed by the 

British on Niagara frontier. (Page 625.) 
Act of February 17, 1836, to pav the estate of Thomas Beacham, of Northumberland 

County, Va., $600 for a l)aru burnt by the British, War of 1812. (Page 626.) 
Act of June 23, 1836, to pav Charles M. Frazier, of St. Leonards, Md., for a house 

biu-nt bv the British in "1814. (Page 642.) 
Act of July"l, 1836, to pav the heirs of Wm. Forbes $2,100 for houses burnt by the 

British at Kinsale, Va", War of 1812. (Page 660.) 
Act of July 1 , 1836, to pay estate of Michael Fenwick $5,000 for a dwelling house 

destroyed by the British while occupied by United States troops, and to adjust 

and settle claims for other houses burnt by the British. (Page 661.) 
Act of July 2, 1836, to pay estate of Nathaniel Canada for a tollhouse and bridge across 

Niantic River, Conn., bm-nt by the British in 1814. (Page 669.) 
Act of July 2, 1836, to pay Charles J. Catlett for tobacco, destroyed by the British and 

American troops, in warehouses at Baltimore, Md., in 1814. (Page 673.) 
Act of March 3, 1837, to pay David Kilborn, of Oswego, N. Y., $2,500, for property 

destroyed. War of 1812." (Page 690.) 
Act of Februarv 22, 1838, to pav estate of John McCartv, $1,000, for a house burnt 

by the British at Fariiham, Va., in 1814. (Page 703.") 
Act of March 7, 1838, to ascertain value of ])roperty of Frances Gardener, destroyed by- 
order of the commanding officer at Fort Brooks, Fla. (Page 705.) 
Act of March 19, 1838, to pay estate of Benjamin H. Mackall, for houses destroyed 

bv the British in 1814, in Marvland. (Page 707.) 
Act of March 28, 1838, to pay James I. Pattison, of Calvert County, Md., $4,200 

for house and other property destroved bv the British in 1814. (Page 709.) 
Act of April 6, 1838, to pay WilHam Eadus $2,"000, for a house burnt by the British at 

Sodus, N. Y., in 1813" (Page 710.) 
Act of April 20, 1838, to pay Calvert Countv, Md., $3,000, for courthouse burnt by 

the British in 1814. (Page 711.) 
Act of July 7, 1838, to pay Richard Frisby, of Kent County, Md., $2,000, for prop- 
erty destroyed by the British in 1814. (Page 743.) 
Act of March 3, 1839, to pay estate of Michael Fenwick $7,000. for houses burnt by 

the British in Washington, D. C. (Page 759.) 
Act of July 27, 1842, to pay Archibald McCallum, of Rouses Point, N. Y., $930 for a 

houseburnt in 1839 while occupied by United States Iroops. (Page 844.) 
Act of August 1, 1842, to pav Svlvester "Phelps, and the heirs of Charles Landon, 

$2,100 for a house burnt at"South Hero, Vt., War of 1812, while occupied by United 

States troops. (Page 848.) 
Act of August 26, 1842, to pav John King $900 for a dwelling house burnt by the 

British in Richmond Counlv. Va., War of 1812. (Page 865.) 
Act of August 26. 1842, to pay "James Tongue $1,837.78, John Scrivener $3,840, and 

estate of William Hodson "$3,968. 39 tWbuildings destroved by the British, Octo- 
ber. 1814. (Page 866.) 
Act of March 1, 1843, to pav William G. Sanders $900 for a house burnt at Fort Brooks, 

Fla., in 1836, by order of Capt. Belton, United States Army, to prevent it being 

used as a cover by the enemy. 
Act of March 3, 1843, to pay Cha"rles Waldron $1,179.61 for buildings and other prop- 
erty destroyed at Micanopy, Fla., in 1836, by order of the commanding officer, to 

prevent its" falling into the" hands of the enemy. (Page 891.) 

Note.— Many other similar cluiins liave been paid by acts of Congress since those herein named, and 
some since the W<jr of 1801-1S(«. 



In 1867 (14 Stats. L., p. 617) an act was passed to pay Josiah O. 
Amies $9,500 for a house destroyed in Fairfax County, Va. That 
house was destroyed, as the committee reported, Iw mihtary or(kM"s 
and to ])revent its beinf::: used by the enemy as a cover for attack and' 
also a ])oint of observation. 

In 1871 (16 Stats. L., p. 678) an act was passed to pay the Ken- 
tucky University, located at Lexington, the sum of S25,000 for build- 
ings destroyed. The buildings were taken by mihtary autliority. 
Tliey were destroyed by accident. 

In 1873 (17 Stats. I^., p. 767) an act was passed to pay Margaret 
Merklein, of Cliambersburg, Pa., S600 for property destroyed by the 
enemy. 

In 1893 (27 Stats. L., p. 744) an act was passed to pay William and 
Mary College, of Virginia, the sum of $64,000, to reimburse said colle^je 
for the destruction of its buildings and other property destroyed with- 
out authority by soldiers of the United States during the late war for 
the suppression of the rebellion. 

(Compiled by J. B. Hollo way.) 

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